‘Survivor: Caramoan’ Fave Andrea: ‘We Can Stomp on (Fans’) Dreams’

I had a chance to sit down with all twenty of the “Fans vs. Favorites” competitors the day before they left for the Caramoan Islands. I’ll be posting exclusive interviews with each contestant every weekday until we get through all of them. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for tons of updates.

Name: Andrea BoehlkeAge: 23Hometown: New York, NYOccupation: Entertainment Host and WriterPrevious Finish: Andrea came in 5th place in “Survivor: Redemption Island”Memorable Moment: Andrea is the only woman to ever come back from Redemption Island.Fun Fact: Andrea loves unicorns more than you love anything.

Note: The “Survivor: Caramoan” pre-game interviews are unlike the pre-game interviews we’ve done in the past. Usually, the interviews take place on location, this time they took place in Los Angeles before the players flew out. At this point, all the “Favorties” know is that they’re flying out in the next few days. They have seen each other, but haven’t seen the new players. They don’t know for sure where they’re going, and they don’t know any of the season’s twists.

Gordon Holmes: Why do you think you were brought back for this season?Andrea Boehlke: I think I was called back because in my season I felt really stuck. I had a lot of potential to do things but it was a tattletale season. I did well in the challenges and I was so close to breaking out and doing really good things. But, it just didn’t pan out for me. I don’t like my season. I’m over my season.Holmes: Boston Rob’s buddy system worked like magic.Boehlke: It did, it really did.Holmes: But I feel like it would never work again.Boehlke: I couldn’t even talk to people on the other tribe without putting a target on my back. I couldn’t even talk to people in my alliance alone. It was really ridiculous. But I think people saw that I wasn’t really a follower even though it looked like that. And when I came back from Redemption Island I was trying my hardest. I was like, “C’mon guys!” (Andrea puts her thumbs up and smiles.)Holmes: Is that how you did it? With your thumbs up?Boehlke: (Laughs) Yes! With my thumbs up.Holmes: That’s so positive. How could they resist?Boehlke: I don’t know. But I think I deserve a second chance.

Holmes: The members of Ometepe who weren’t Boston Rob were tagged with the follower label. Is that something you’re going to try to combat this season or is it something you can use to your advantage?Boehlke: I’m hoping people see me as a follower instead of remembering me only for betraying Matt. I plan to come in and play more aggressively this time. If they think I’m a follower I can pull the strings and hopefully nobody will see. Then, I’ll just coast to the end.Holmes: Like in “Inspector Gadget” you just see this evil, secret hand petting a cat. You’re Dr. Claw.Boehlke: (Laughs) Yeah. Well, like Kim this past season. Having all of these relationships with people so they have some kind of trust with me. That if my name is being thrown around they would come to me. “I really like Andrea, so I’m going to tell her that I found this idol. Or, that they’re talking about her.” Whereas last time, people didn’t really bond with you so they didn’t want to save you. With Kim, everyone thought she was best friends with them. So, I want to have a lot of really close bonds.Holmes: But, “Survivor” is very much a product of the last season the cast saw. Everyone just saw Kim rocking that strategy.Boehlke: Yeah, you have to be careful. They might be worried about girls teaming up. Or, however people were voted out, they might want to do the exact opposite. Like Erik Reichenbach, he was tricked by a bunch of girls.Holmes: Girls are the worst.Boehlke: (Laughs) Girls are the worst. I’m actually scared of the girls, to be honest. So, I don’t want people to see me hanging out with other girls and get nervous. It’s going to be nuts.

Holmes: You were a Power Rankings…pimp. I don’t know why “pimp” was the first word to pop into my head. Bad ass, superstar, juggernaut…Boehlke: (Laughs) I’ll take pimp!Holmes: Pimp it is. Do you think looking at the game in that manner is going to help you your second time out?Boehlke: Yeah. I was hoping you were going to be here because I actually do think it will help me. Because, if I had returned right after my season I don’t think I would’ve done very well. But, after watching two other seasons I analyzed it totally differently. If I had been thinking of the Power Rankings in my season, I would have known what was up. It gives you a view from up top.

Holmes: What’ve you been up to since “Redemption Island”?Boehlke: I moved to New York. I’ve been living there almost a year, trying to get on to the Broadway. (Laughs)Holmes: The Broadway?Boehlke: Or the Off Broadway.Holmes: I feel like you’re making words up.Boehlke: I’m not.Holmes: Do you sing?Boehlke: I can sing, but I don’t like musicals as much. I like straight theater and improv.

Holmes: You played with returnees, now you are a returnee. What did you learn from playing with them?Boehlke: Going in, I’m not worried about my edit, how I look in a swimsuit. All of that is gone. I had a boyfriend at the time and I was worried if they were going to put me in a showmance on the show. I was so paranoid over these things that didn’t matter.Holmes: You kicked that guy to the curb so you could win “Survivor”? That’s messed up.Boehlke: (Laughs) He’s gone now. And the first time playing, I was all about the adventure, which, if there are fans playing, they’re going to be so stoked to be here. They’ll all be these happy bunnies and kittens and we can stomp on their dreams because they’re all starry eyed. But, they might be pissed that we’re there and try to get rid of us first. Now I don’t need the adventure, I need a million dollars.Holmes: “Screw the Adventure” is going to be the headline of this interview.Boehlke: “Adventure, Adschmesure.”Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it is?Boehlke: There are a lot of crazy people here.Holmes: Present company included?Boehlke: (Laughs) Yeah, I thought, “Is this to get me to realize I’m a kooky person?”Holmes: I wasn’t going to say anything, but…Boehlke: I’m assuming it’s some kind of second chancers, maybe a Fans vs. Favorites II. There is one random guy. Have you seen him yet?Holmes: I can’t say.Boehlke: It’s all of these favorites and maybe one crew guy. There will probably be new people too because I only see ten people here.Holmes: I’m psyched to see you back.Boehlke: Aww…did you do this? (Raises the roof).Holmes: That’s exactly what I did.

Holmes: Alright, what are your opinions of the cast thus far?Boehlke: Have you seen the people here? (Laughs) At this point I’m hoping we’re able to make a shelter. I kind of expected some of them. I expected Phillip, I expected Cochran. I’m really surprised that Francesca is here. I can really see myself getting between a lot of this because I am friends with a lot of them or at least on good terms. I know that Francesca and Phillip can’t stand each other. And I’m pretty good with both of them. I don’t really know Corinne. I’m really leery of Brenda and Corinne and they’re probably leery of me. Who else, Brandon? Him with girls? You’re not sure if you should be wearing short shorts around him. I think it’s going to be nuts. I already know building the shelter, everyone’s going to be going off, there’s going to be so much paranoia. It’s going to be ridiculous. Hopefully I can form relationships with each person and be in the middle of all of that.

Holmes: How did you do with the elements in Nicaragua? Boehlke: I did OK. I’m not worried about that, actually. I think I’ll do a lot better than a lot of people here. Francesca only made it six days. I made it to day thirty seven and I know how my body reacted. I’m ready for all of that. I lived with Phillip for thirty seven days, so I’m not worried about him getting on my nerves. I think some people are going to go crazy if they’re with him for that amount of time.

Holmes: What was it like getting the call to come back?Boehlke: It was exciting, but I almost went back right after my season.Holmes: For “South Pacific”?Boehlke: Yeah. But I think now is a good amount of time for me. If I went back right away I never would have done the Power Rankings.Holmes: And your life would be empty and sad.Boehlke: I’d have this void that I needed to fill. But, I don’t think I would have been ready. But I have to win this.Holmes: You will. Is the million dollars going to change you?Boehlke: No, I’ll still do the Power Rankings, I’ll just have my assistant fax them over.